EDMONTON — Alberta's political system needs drastic reform if democracy is to survive in the province, Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said Tuesday.

Taft released another plank of his party's election platform in which he outlined proposals including fixed election dates, a registry for government lobbyists, fewer members in the provincial legislature and a citizens assembly that would draft referendum proposals.

A Liberal government would also cap political donations from unions and business at $5,000, he said.

It may not be the sexiest plank in his party's election platform for the Nov. 22 provincial vote, but it's a crucial one, said the Liberal leader.

"I worry that we take democracy for granted and it's too easily compromised,'' he said.

Governing Tory backbenchers spent more time arguing over what should be Alberta's official grass than they did debating last spring's $22-billion budget, Taft charged.

He also said there should be more transparency in how the government operates.

"When the premier's former advisers are lobbying to kill anti-tobacco legislation and build a new railroad, Albertans deserve to know,'' Taft said.

He was referring to Rod Love, Premier Ralph Klein's former chief of staff, whose consulting company was behind a feasibility study for a public-private venture to build a multibillion-dollar railway line to the oilsands in northern Alberta.

"When the minister of health and wellness awards untendered contracts to his personal friend, Kelley Charlebois, Albertans deserve to know,'' Taft added.

Charlebois, a former executive assistant to Health Minister Gary Mar, received more than $400,000 from the department with little documentation showing what work he performed. Mar defended the move by saying taxpayers got good value for their money from Charlebois's expertise.

Premier Ralph Klein's spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.

Taft also repeated earlier calls for more checks and balances on provincial finances, and suggested freedom of information rules should also be strengthened.

When questions were raised about Klein's use of a government plane, the Opposition Liberals were denied access to flight logs, Taft pointed out.

Then the Liberals submitted a freedom-of-information request. They received no information but were billed $5,000 for the inquiry, he said.

A similiar request of Ottawa on federal government travel expenses yielded a great deal of information and only cost $5, said Taft as he produced a large stack of documents bundled with twine.